The contributions of biological control to reduced plant size and biomass of water hyacinth populations

Jones, Roy W; Hill, Jaclyn M; Coetzee, Julie A; Hill, Martin P

Title: The contributions of biological control to reduced plant size and biomass of water hyacinth populations
Creator: Jones, Roy W
Creator: Hill, Jaclyn M
Creator: Coetzee, Julie A
Creator: Hill, Martin P
Date Issued: 2018
Date: 2018
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68803
Identifier: vital:29326
Identifier: https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1007/s10750-017-3413-y
Description: Water hyacinth is invasive in many countries, where it reduces aquatic biodiversity and limits water resource utilisation. Biological control of water hyacinth has been successful in South Africa, but has suffered from a lack of empirical data to prove causation. Insect exclusion trials were conducted to quantify the contribution of Neochetina eichhorniae and N. bruchi to the integrated control of water hyacinth on the Nseleni River, South Africa. Insecticide was not expected to induce phytotoxicity, but would prevent weevil damage in water hyacinth plants; and weevil herbivory was predicted to reduce plant petiole length, and above/below surface biomass. Results showed that insecticide had no phytotoxic effects and excluded weevils for 3 weeks, providing a baseline for field applications. Biological control on the Nseleni River directly affected water hyacinth biomass and petiole length, but did not affect plant cover. Plants subject to weevil herbivory demonstrated reductions in above and below surface biomass and had shorter petioles compared to insect-free plants. Dead biomass was also higher in biological control treatments. Biological control strongly affects plant size, biomass and vigour; however, further integrated control is required to facilitate reduction in mat cover, which is the goalpost for successful control of floating aquatic plants.
Format: 12 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Hydrobiologia
Relation: Jones, R.W., Hill, J.M., Coetzee, J.A. and Hill, M.P., 2018. The contributions of biological control to reduced plant size and biomass of water hyacinth populations. Hydrobiologia, 807(1), pp.377-388.
Relation: Hydrobiologia volume 807 number 1 377 388 February 2018 1573-5117
Rights: Springer International Publishing AG
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the National Library of South Africa Copyright Act

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SDG 15. Life On Land

SDG 09. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Hill, Jaclyn Marie (Ms)

RU Department of Botany

Coetzee, Julie A (Prof)

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

RU DST/NRF SARChI for Insects in Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems

Hill, Martin Patrick (Distinguished Professor)

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